Accountability Partners 102: Who When and How?
This is part two of our accountability basics- who, when and how?
For those of you who want to catch up on part 1, you can access the blog here.
Who should be my accountability partner?
Spiritual accountability can go three primary ways:
You and someone at the same spiritual maturity level
Think of them as your “spiritual sister/twin”. They are able to live life with you, go through the battles alongside you. With them you seek advice, you are each other’s shoulder to cry on, each other’s offer advice, see things/struggles that may be going right over your head, and call you out for it.
You and a mentor
This person is your spiritual mama. Your accountability with your spiritual mentor is the one you turn to and trust that her relationship with God is what is guiding her advice to you. This person has been through the hills and valleys with God, and though it may not have been a perfect path, she time and time again chose a perfect God and encourages you to do the same.
You and a mentee
In this case, you are the spiritual mama! You will come to a point where you are approached with the privilege to mentor someone who is new to their walk with God. In this case, you are taking on the spiritual responsibility to steward this person well, and walk with them through their life.
***side note: you’ll be happily surprised to see how much God will use this person to teach you as much as you are teaching them!
When should I find an accountability partner?
As soon as God gives you the go! This coincides with one very important thing when finding your accountability partner -
PRAY ABOUT IT.
When God brings someone your way, invite the Holy Spirit in you heart to be able to discern if this is a person that you are meant to grow with in your walk. It is one thing to have people with you, but if you aren’t going towards the same goal, they can potentially deter you from growing with God and becoming all that God wants you to be.
Once God gives you the go, approach them directly and ask if they will be your accountability partner! Assure them that they don’t have to give you an answer at the moment, but have it be something for them to pray for and get back to them in due time.
After you have your yes, yay! So how do you do this thing?
How do I be an accountability partner?
Becoming an accountability partner is just like any relationship. It takes intentional time together to get to know one another, build trust, and cultivate honesty and transparency.
With that, don’t rush the process! It’s difficult to be open and honest with people, so always welcome God to continue to give you the courage to be open and honest and cover your accountability partner in prayer as well.
There will be times where your accountability partner, and you, will mess up. (If you didn’t, you guys wouldn’t need each other.) And in those times, you will have to choose to see them for the way God sees them, in full faith that you are both still going towards the same goal of seeking God and all that He’s made you both to be.
Accountability can look like many different things. It can vary from relationship, in the way it is presented. It can look like joy, it may look like tough love of correction. It can look like prayer behind the scenes, and in person fellowship.
In its entirety, accountability is the gift that God gives us to live our lives fully to the standard he’s called us to, so we pray you find yours and/or continue to walk with the partners He’s given you.
Always with love,
Jo